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. 2014 May 5;2014:901432. doi: 10.1155/2014/901432

Hydrochemistry of the Hot Springs in Western Sichuan Province Related to the Wenchuan M S 8.0 Earthquake

Zhi Chen 1,2, Jianguo Du 2,*, Xiaocheng Zhou 2, Li Yi 2, Lei Liu 2, Chao Xie 2, Yueju Cui 2, Ying Li 2
PMCID: PMC4032713  PMID: 24892106

Abstract

Hydrogeochemistry of 32 hot springs in the western Sichuan Province after the Wenchuan M S 8.0 earthquake was investigated by analyzing the concentrations of cation and anion and the isotopic compositions of hydrogen and oxygen. The water samples of the hot springs were collected four times from June 2008 to April 2010. Hydrogeochemical data indicated the water samples can be classified into 9 chemical types. Values of δD and δ 18O indicated that the spring waters were mainly derived from meteoric precipitation and affected by water-rock interaction and mixture of deep fluids. Concentrations of K+and SO4 − of the samples from the Kangding district exhibited evident increases before the Wenchuan earthquake, indicating more supplement of deep fluids under the increase of tectonic stress. The chemical and isotopic variations of the water samples from the area closer to the epicenter area can be attributed to variation of regional stress field when the aftershock activities became weak.

1. Introduction

Great earthquakes usually associate with the physical-chemical variations of groundwater and hot springs. The short-term hydrogeochemical precursors for earthquake [1–4], co-seismic response of hydrochemistry [5, 6] and postseismic geochemical and isotopic changes of hot springs have been reported [7–12].

The observed geochemical anomalies related to earthquakes are usually attributed to the alteration of groundwater in the circulating system under the action of increasing crustal stress before and after earthquakes [6, 7, 13, 14]. For understanding the hydrogeochemical anomalies related to earthquakes, some genetic mechanism models have been proposed, such as increased solubility of rocks under increased pressure and release of ions from rocks into water [15], pore collapse with fluids expulsion [8], the water-rock interactions at the enhanced reactive surfaces [16], aquifers rupture with mixing of different fluids [6] and expulsion of deep fluids by tectonic pumping [1].

Hydrogeochemical survey of hot springs in western Sichuan before the M S 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake mainly focused on the origin of waters, the pollutions, the chemical classifications and the heat reservoirs in the sites surrounding Kangding county [17–25].

The M S 8.0 earthquake occurred in Wenchuan county, Sichuan province, Southwest China on 12 May, 2008, following by hundreds of aftershocks with magnitudes higher than 3.0.

In order to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the springs related to the seismic activities, the hydrogeochemical survey of 32 hot springs in the western Sichuan were performed four times from June 2008 to April 2010.

2. Geological Setting

The investigated area is located at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, in which there are four major fault zones named as Minjiang fault (MJF), Longmenshan fault (LMSF), Xianshuihe fault (XSHF) and Anninghe fault (ANHF) zones (Figure 1) where earthquakes frequently occurred [26].Triassic littoral-neritic clastic rocks interbeded with carbonate and intrusive granite are exposed in the west of the LMSF and ANHF zones, but the strata from Late Paleozoic to Cenozoic are widespread exposed in the LMSF and ANHF zones and on the east of the fault zones, and granite is found in the intersection of the LMSF, XSHF and ANHF zones [27–30]. The fault zones act as the important passage for upward migration of thermal fluids from the deep earth, which is indicated by distribution of many hot springs in the MJF, LMSF, XSHF and ANHF zones (Figure 1). Historically, a number of great earthquakes (M S > 7.0) have occurred in the investigated area since 1800. For instance, the 1850 M S 7.5 Xichang earthquake occurred in the ANHF zone, two M S 7.2 earthquakes of 16 and 23 August 1976 in the MJF zone, the M S 7.5 one of 25 August 1933 in the LMSF zone, and the M S 7.5 one of 1955 and the M S 7.9 one of 1973 in the XSHF zone [12]. The M S 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake resulted in a 285 km surface rupture zone along the pre-existing Yingxiu-Beichuan, Guanxian-Anxian and Qingchuan faults, with the maximum vertical surface offset of about 6.2 m [31].

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Schematic map of geology in western Sichuan Province, showing the sample locations, and earthquake epicenters, the insert figure is time-magnitude plot for aftershocks with M S ≥ 4, red lines are active faults.

3. Methods

Water samples were repeatedly collected four times (in June and October 2008, June 2009, and April 2010) at 32 sites of spas, wells, and springs (Figure 1) in the MJF, LMSF, XSHF, and ANHF zones. The samples were sealed and stored in 500 mL glass bottles. The values of temperature were measured with a digital thermometer with an error of ±1% in the field. Isotopic compositions of δD and δ 18O were measured with a Picarro L1102 mass spectrometer in the Laboratory of Gas Geochemistry, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Lanzhou, and the errors are 0.5‰ for δD and 0.1‰ for δ 18O, respectively. The concentrations of cations (K+, Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) and anions (F−, Cl−, Br−, NO3 −, and SO4 2−) were determined with the Dionex ICS-900 ion chromatography (reproducibility within ±2%) that is installed in the Institute of Earthquake Science, China Earthquake Administration. The CO3 2− and HCO3 − concentrations were measured by the standard titration procedures with a ZDJ-100 potentiometric titrator (reproducibility within ±2%). The ion balance (ib) was calculated according to the following equation [11]:

ib(%)=∑cations−∑anions(∑cations+∑anions)×0.5×100. (1)

4. Results

The physicochemical parameters of the 32 springs were listed in Table 1. No water samples were collected from the springs of nos. 2 and 24–26 in June 2008 because the springs were damaged by the Wenchuan earthquake. No samples were collected from the springs nos. 8 and 29 in April 2010 and the spring no. 28 in June 2009 and April 2010 because of the postearthquake reconstruction. The ion balance values of measured chemical data were calculated to be less than 5% (Table 1).

Table 1.

Physicochemical parameters of the 32 hot spring waters.

Number Site L 
(E)		 B 
(N)		 Date T 
°C		 TDS
mg/L		 K+ 
mg/L		 Na+ 
mg/L		 Ca2+ 
mg/L		 Mg2+ 
mg/L		 Cl− 
mg/L		 SO4 2− 
mg/L		 CO3 2− 
mg/L		 HCO3 − 
mg/L		 ib 
%		 δ 18O 
‰		 δD 
‰		 Chemical type
The LMSF zone
1 Sangzao Spring 104.35 31.61 11.06.2008 19.0 557.43 2.67 64.78 73.27 12.27 64.74 108.24 0.00 229.38 −0.01 −6.18 −61.66 CaNa–HCO3SO4
01.11.2008 19.1 394.07 2.68 41.92 55.57 12.90 30.39 72.65 0.00 175.98 0.02 −9.79 −69.63 CaNa–HCO3SO4
01.07.2009 19.7 367.75 2.60 40.26 50.64 12.04 30.57 71.52 0.00 158.27 0.02 −9.87 −68.40 CaNa–HCO3SO4
22.04.2010 19.5 361.94 2.61 37.63 45.01 12.88 30.45 65.72 0.00 166.74 0.00 −9.96 −70.34 CaNa–HCO3SO4
2 Wenchuan Well 103.77 31.63 10.06.2008 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
21.10.2008 15.4 1569.81 4.21 71.65 182.01 128.73 47.39 878.08 0.00 248.12 −0.01 −8.37 −72.01 MgCa–SO4
29.06.2009 15.5 1128.39 4.35 61.72 151.53 80.38 29.51 720.73 0.00 70.05 0.00 −10.14 −73.78 MgCa–SO4
20.04.2010 10.8 1033.14 4.55 54.99 137.22 70.43 30.47 687.83 0.00 46.65 −0.01 −10.02 −73.11 MgCa–SO4
3 Lixian Well 103.59 31.48 09.06.2008 32.9 1579.54 5.64 35.95 252.78 103.76 8.15 862.32 0.00 310.70 0.00 −9.53 −80.88 CaMg–SO4
22.10.2008 29.5 1195.08 5.00 37.29 182.66 78.59 7.82 812.50 0.00 68.47 −0.01 −11.75 −81.76 CaMg–SO4
29.06.2009 27.1 1105.85 5.44 37.91 161.15 76.82 7.90 780.09 0.00 34.00 −0.01 −11.01 −82.13 CaMg–SO4
20.04.2010 29.5 1025.28 5.72 36.15 146.64 69.97 7.48 741.96 0.00 14.63 −0.02 −11.62 −80.88 CaMg–SO4
4 Guergou Spring 103.17 31.46 11.06.2008 n.d. 349.33 2.33 91.11 5.24 0.80 2.58 21.76 0.00 223.52 0.00 −11.74 −116.81 Na–HCO3
21.10.2008 58.0 246.71 2.23 60.76 4.74 0.83 2.45 21.33 0.00 150.62 −0.01 −14.42 −116.49 Na–HCO3
28.06.2009 56.0 240.49 2.18 54.36 5.22 0.83 2.61 22.63 0.00 150.62 −0.03 −16.27 −116.99 Na–HCO3
19.04.2010 55.8 151.69 2.19 29.82 4.76 0.82 2.31 22.16 0.00 88.13 −0.05 −16.34 −116.65 Na–HCO3
5 Jiuzhaigou Spring 103.00 31.52 11.06.2008 30.5 837.83 9.06 202.49 26.48 20.48 60.83 237.79 0.00 272.78 0.01 −14.01 −107.26 Na–HCO3SO4
21.10.2008 32.1 813.62 9.15 189.00 26.01 20.66 64.16 225.51 0.00 272.34 0.01 −13.59 −106.10 Na–HCO3SO4
28.06.2009 32.0 739.07 8.86 163.55 28.71 20.55 10.28 232.20 0.00 270.10 0.02 −14.57 −106.62 Na–HCO3SO4
19.04.2010 27.3 728.04 8.75 150.98 26.73 20.41 9.65 241.18 0.00 267.84 0.00 −13.95 −106.54 Na–HCO3SO4
The MJF zone
6 Erdaohai Spring 103.32 32.73 08.06.2008 21.6 505.34 1.34 8.75 85.17 25.73 0.93 3.80 0.00 379.30 0.02 −13.72 −102.42 CaMg–HCO3
22.10.2008 20.7 511.71 1.32 8.80 84.02 25.05 0.98 4.08 0.00 386.99 0.01 −14.39 −102.46 CaMg–HCO3
29.06.2009 20.0 464.18 1.22 8.57 77.24 23.35 1.02 3.78 0.00 348.94 0.02 −14.57 −103.88 CaMg–HCO3
21.04.2010 19.8 428.70 1.27 8.21 76.73 23.23 0.97 3.56 0.00 313.61 0.04 −14.39 −103.29 CaMg–HCO3
7 Kakagou Spring 103.68 32.98 08.06.2008 18.7 914.21 5.11 25.23 160.21 31.45 2.05 10.98 0.00 678.66 0.01 −13.56 −101.05 Ca–HCO3
23.10.2008 19.7 876.14 4.92 24.08 154.12 30.74 1.93 10.86 0.00 648.69 0.01 −13.37 −101.92 Ca–HCO3
30.06.2009 21.7 873.30 4.84 23.93 142.67 28.67 2.07 10.83 0.00 660.16 −0.01 −14.04 −100.46 Ca–HCO3
21.04.2010 19.7 815.42 4.79 23.55 134.00 31.65 1.84 10.33 0.00 608.89 0.01 −14.12 −101.80 Ca–HCO3
8 Chuanpanqiao
Spring		 103.64 32.85 08.06.2008 8.8 1657.61 6.36 21.82 97.82 182.62 10.78 12.54 0.00 1324.27 −0.01 −14.20 −112.00 Mg–HCO3
23.10.2008 9.6 1598.09 6.52 21.88 103.64 183.57 10.56 12.72 0.00 1258.08 0.00 −14.30 −112.48 Mg–HCO3
30.06.2009 10.7 1557.18 5.89 21.68 103.79 175.29 10.55 11.54 0.00 1228.08 0.00 −15.34 −112.23 Mg–HCO3
21.04.2010 10.7 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. −14.95 −113.33 n.d.
9 Songpan Well 103.60 32.65 08.06.2008 9.0 647.31 1.64 14.05 55.71 65.01 2.34 17.78 0.00 490.23 0.01 −13.25 −101.54 MgCa–HCO3
23.10.2008 9.9 648.33 1.60 14.12 52.12 65.27 2.17 16.32 0.00 496.23 0.00 −13.43 −102.82 MgCa–HCO3
30.06.2009 9.3 610.38 1.57 13.93 49.54 65.43 2.25 16.24 0.00 461.42 0.02 −13.20 −102.20 MgCa–HCO3
21.04.2010 9.9 603.35 1.60 13.81 50.12 62.90 2.48 15.96 0.00 456.23 0.02 −13.77 −102.09 MgCa–HCO3
The XSHF zone
10 Ganzi Well 100.00 31.62 12.06.2008 27.8 441.46 3.42 49.07 38.84 19.07 4.04 44.27 0.00 281.36 0.00 −15.93 −125.50 NaCa–HCO3
24.10.2008 29.8 447.22 3.53 47.97 37.51 19.97 3.94 43.44 0.00 289.54 −0.01 −16.48 −125.21 NaCa–HCO3
27.06.2009 29.6 416.83 3.43 47.91 37.39 19.13 4.06 43.34 0.00 260.25 0.01 −16.17 −125.79 NaCa–HCO3
18.04.2010 29.2 472.24 3.33 50.76 38.72 19.97 3.80 40.17 0.00 314.28 −0.01 −16.15 −125.75 NaCa–HCO3
11 Ganzi Spring 100.00 31.61 12.06.2008 43.1 735.04 8.95 154.67 23.95 16.42 6.38 62.15 0.00 459.17 0.01 −16.33 −124.72 Na–HCO3
24.10.2008 41.5 731.75 9.08 150.20 23.13 16.34 6.19 60.61 0.00 461.22 0.00 −16.28 −124.30 Na–HCO3
27.06.2009 43.0 695.04 9.17 146.66 22.34 16.44 6.00 61.79 0.00 427.90 0.01 −16.45 −126.00 Na–HCO3
18.04.2010 41.4 706.99 9.29 138.30 21.87 16.42 6.17 63.67 0.00 447.27 −0.01 −16.29 −124.46 Na–HCO3
12 Guyi
Spring		 100.80 31.27 13.06.2008 35.5 2218.75 12.68 607.07 11.30 21.81 6.09 12.25 142.80 1399.60 0.01 −16.38 −130.98 Na–HCO3
25.10.2008 31.3 2353.19 13.13 619.72 11.36 22.19 5.73 11.62 142.80 1524.39 0.00 −16.16 −131.17 Na–HCO3
26.06.2009 33.2 2239.88 12.63 593.59 10.33 21.82 6.11 11.60 157.21 1424.29 −0.01 −16.97 −132.52 Na–HCO3
18.04.2010 28.2 2366.42 12.63 619.91 10.01 21.31 5.95 12.35 108.56 1573.76 0.00 −16.56 −131.90 Na–HCO3
13 Longpugou Spring 1 101.24 30.98 13.06.2008 37.8 1180.32 7.16 310.06 11.00 8.23 13.83 6.83 0.00 820.21 0.01 −16.74 −137.69 Na–HCO3
25.10.2008 37.2 1199.61 6.96 288.86 11.69 7.90 13.02 6.81 0.00 860.75 −0.01 −17.02 −136.73 Na–HCO3
26.06.2009 39.2 1164.18 6.90 280.27 11.28 7.80 13.27 6.61 0.00 836.33 −0.01 −17.41 −137.71 Na–HCO3
18.04.2010 36.5 1145.60 6.83 281.70 11.16 7.85 12.98 6.56 0.00 815.75 −0.01 −17.47 −138.90 Na–HCO3
14 Longpugou
Spring 2		 101.24 30.95 13.06.2008 44.5 1070.89 6.47 221.80 18.30 26.65 8.85 10.09 57.10 719.87 −0.02 −16.85 −134.42 Na–HCO3
25.10.2008 42.5 927.46 6.93 205.03 18.90 26.11 8.28 9.78 0.00 650.41 0.02 −17.52 −134.80 Na–HCO3
26.06.2009 42.5 900.81 6.67 198.93 17.43 25.73 8.39 9.33 0.00 634.33 0.02 −16.63 −133.90 Na–HCO3
18.04.2010 43.2 919.25 6.48 176.77 18.84 25.93 8.53 9.63 0.00 671.47 −0.01 −17.61 −133.70 Na–HCO3
15 Bamei Spring 101.62 30.54 14.06.2008 55.2 1966.85 76.60 443.00 15.17 29.06 23.77 6.78 0.00 1368.29 0.01 −17.34 −135.61 Na–HCO3
25.10.2008 55.6 1913.45 75.22 417.08 14.76 28.42 20.55 7.00 0.00 1346.62 0.00 −17.57 −134.51 Na–HCO3
26.06.2009 56.0 2068.93 77.29 463.31 14.32 26.66 20.58 6.81 0.00 1456.10 0.00 −17.54 −135.81 Na–HCO3
17.04.2010 55.6 2724.13 74.40 679.23 14.49 29.42 20.55 7.12 0.00 1894.64 0.02 −17.89 −134.41 Na–HCO3
16 Guanding Spring 101.96 29.98 15.06.2008 80.5 1306.05 41.23 396.79 13.16 13.21 336.16 51.96 11.34 440.26 0.02 −14.24 −117.01 Na–ClHCO3
26.10.2008 80.0 1395.37 40.57 367.22 13.41 13.64 328.54 50.02 92.82 485.48 −0.03 −15.26 −118.02 Na–ClHCO3
25.06.2009 83.0 1353.81 42.72 367.40 13.67 13.50 320.93 49.72 99.82 443.09 −0.02 −17.02 −127.74 Na–ClHCO3
17.04.2010 83.0 1273.60 41.52 349.71 13.80 13.81 300.83 50.63 56.00 447.24 −0.01 −16.13 −123.72 Na–ClHCO3
17 Longtougou Spring 101.96 29.98 15.06.2008 70.8 2044.87 53.20 510.82 16.02 31.42 220.68 8.33 0.00 1200.36 0.01 −15.99 −128.69 Na–HCO3
26.10.2008 70.2 2106.82 52.72 518.38 17.41 30.95 203.66 8.59 0.00 1270.92 0.00 −16.26 −127.78 Na–HCO3
25.06.2009 73.1 2025.87 52.27 516.68 16.71 30.84 226.15 8.30 0.00 1171.25 0.01 −16.61 −128.57 Na–HCO3
17.04.2010 70.2 2096.92 51.62 507.94 16.33 31.09 207.55 8.30 0.00 1270.92 0.00 −17.04 −130.94 Na–HCO3
18 Zheduotang Spring 101.86 30.01 15.06.2008 54.5 681.59 3.13 208.79 4.87 0.12 10.55 17.57 67.83 342.06 −0.01 −18.06 −138.80 Na–HCO3
26.10.2008 53.8 705.52 3.14 219.83 4.38 0.12 10.57 17.31 85.68 338.08 −0.01 −18.21 −137.20 Na–HCO3
25.06.2009 53.4 650.33 3.04 207.09 4.44 0.12 9.59 16.57 35.89 346.59 0.01 −18.64 −141.98 Na–HCO3
17.04.2010 53.8 663.17 2.87 208.84 4.72 0.12 9.76 16.42 88.25 305.09 −0.02 −18.84 −139.88 Na–HCO3
19 Erdaoqiao Spring 101.95 30.09 15.06.2008 39.1 843.39 23.54 150.53 22.10 44.05 43.88 114.59 0.00 443.52 0.02 −14.50 −112.90 NaMg–HCO3
26.10.2008 39.4 919.66 22.47 150.67 22.08 44.68 40.36 107.06 0.00 530.93 0.00 −14.54 −112.16 NaMg–HCO3
26.06.2009 40.6 926.35 22.36 146.31 20.20 44.48 43.92 109.47 0.00 538.41 −0.02 −15.57 −115.14 NaMg–HCO3
16.04.2010 40.6 935.65 23.67 157.07 20.93 43.76 40.97 111.59 0.00 535.44 0.00 −15.01 −115.35 NaMg–HCO3
20 Xinxing Spring 102.06 29.75 16.06.2008 45.6 1287.50 9.41 422.66 12.53 9.69 148.03 28.85 106.33 545.15 0.03 −15.90 −115.30 Na–HCO3
27.10.2008 44.1 1167.77 9.68 365.04 12.75 9.43 144.03 24.65 0.00 597.19 0.05 −15.53 −115.83 Na–HCO3
24.06.2009 42.8 1289.88 9.23 360.63 11.97 9.36 148.41 24.07 124.73 597.17 −0.02 −15.63 −114.96 Na–HCO3
23.04.2010 48.2 1038.46 9.19 303.10 12.04 8.98 156.23 21.31 0.00 523.35 0.02 −15.21 −115.86 Na–HCO3
21 Gonghe Spring 102.11 30.62 16.06.2008 48.8 578.15 9.94 108.43 19.30 22.06 18.44 60.27 0.00 337.54 0.01 −11.91 −88.74 Na–HCO3
27.10.2008 47.6 598.18 10.03 106.53 20.12 22.07 17.83 60.07 0.00 359.48 0.00 −12.40 −90.07 Na–HCO3
24.06.2009 50.0 610.23 9.57 107.62 18.49 21.27 17.36 65.08 0.00 368.95 −0.01 −12.49 −89.29 Na–HCO3
23.04.2010 44.8 585.91 9.41 111.76 19.32 21.47 17.85 64.11 0.00 339.32 0.01 −12.33 −89.00 Na–HCO3
22 Erhaoying Spring 102.03 29.59 17.06.2008 65.5 597.31 18.34 154.11 13.45 4.62 37.14 59.30 0.00 307.61 0.02 −14.22 −105.92 Na–HCO3
27.10.2008 67.4 645.11 18.25 156.50 13.48 4.64 36.80 62.21 0.00 349.86 0.00 −14.31 −109.95 Na–HCO3
25.06.2009 63.0 585.59 18.53 153.02 13.20 4.72 35.31 62.43 0.00 295.11 0.03 −15.13 −108.27 Na–HCO3
24.04.2010 67.4 631.67 18.29 150.44 13.01 4.75 35.97 59.85 0.00 348.99 0.00 −15.27 −108.87 Na–HCO3
23 Tianwanhe Spring 102.14 29.49 17.06.2008 53.0 613.88 17.60 76.93 13.10 45.32 24.61 152.25 0.00 281.49 −0.01 −10.31 −79.22 NaMg–HCO3SO4
25.10.2009 n.d. 632.23 16.92 73.37 12.74 45.71 23.42 139.62 0.00 317.73 −0.02 −10.04 −78.77 NaMg–HCO3SO4
24.06.2009 54.0 611.73 17.58 79.12 12.81 43.62 24.91 145.24 0.00 286.45 −0.01 −10.50 −83.14 NaMg–HCO3SO4
24.04.2010 53.2 644.79 17.44 79.11 12.71 44.44 25.65 145.44 0.00 317.73 −0.02 −10.59 −80.38 NaMg–HCO3SO4
24 Caoke Spring 102.10 29.39 18.06.2008 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
28.10.2008 41.4 407.78 3.00 48.74 50.10 6.19 3.97 155.60 0.00 139.19 −0.02 −12.38 −88.30 CaNa–SO4HCO3
24.06.2009 42.9 363.08 2.97 46.19 44.43 6.11 3.94 160.52 0.00 98.05 −0.01 −12.50 −91.09 CaNa–SO4HCO3
24.04.2010 41.4 369.36 3.03 46.29 45.63 6.17 3.57 161.87 0.00 101.89 −0.02 −12.59 −90.94 CaNa–SO4HCO3
25 Shimian Well 102.22 29.44 18.06.2008 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
28.10.2008 30.4 150.26 2.35 38.60 6.99 1.20 2.58 17.82 0.00 69.62 0.00 −11.08 −87.15 Na–HCO3
23.06.2009 31.3 149.10 2.39 37.61 6.46 1.23 2.44 17.29 0.00 70.79 0.00 −11.28 −90.21 Na–HCO3
24.04.2010 31.2 137.77 2.34 35.14 6.86 1.20 2.35 17.16 0.00 62.48 0.01 −10.51 −88.94 Na–HCO3
The ANHF zone
26 Gongyihai Spring 102.39 29.02 18.06.2008 56.9 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. −14.23 −108.54 n.d.
28.10.2008 54.1 320.27 3.34 109.14 2.37 1.00 1.91 46.17 0.00 82.11 0.00 −14.19 −108.67 Na–HCO3SO4
23.06.2009 55.4 306.82 3.37 100.47 2.40 1.01 1.99 48.14 0.00 81.95 −0.01 −14.83 −110.47 Na–HCO3SO4
24.04.2010 56.4 323.92 3.23 113.91 2.44 1.02 3.80 47.98 0.00 88.81 0.02 −14.82 −110.20 Na–HCO3SO4
27 Chuanxin Spring 102.36 28.26 19.06.2008 n.d. 462.71 4.80 86.08 15.24 11.55 5.52 12.67 0.00 325.96 −0.01 −13.46 −106.54 Na–HCO3
28.10.2008 n.d. 449.48 4.25 86.72 15.29 11.45 5.18 12.44 0.00 311.73 0.45 −13.32 −106.98 Na–HCO3
23.06.2009 49.0 483.93 4.23 85.56 13.75 10.18 4.66 12.00 0.00 351.73 −0.04 −14.51 −108.29 Na–HCO3
24.04.2010 45.1 456.34 4.23 85.46 13.21 9.52 4.72 12.74 0.00 325.14 −0.02 −13.41 −107.37 Na–HCO3
28 Taihe Spring 102.14 27.91 19.06.2008 21.1 226.41 0.69 58.65 4.03 0.76 1.99 12.76 0.00 146.70 0.01 −13.37 −106.65 Na–HCO3
29.10.2008 21.1 206.70 0.66 53.56 4.02 0.00 1.91 12.72 0.00 132.20 0.00 −13.31 −106.32 Na–HCO3
n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
29 Xichang Well 102.15 27.91 19.06.2008 22.3 261.87 0.31 78.93 2.08 0.81 21.78 15.22 0.00 137.09 0.01 −13.78 −106.89 Na–HCO3
29.10.2008 n.d. 229.28 0.32 71.76 2.15 0.85 21.32 15.22 0.00 112.05 0.02 −13.23 −106.64 Na–HCO3
22.06.2009 24.2 238.13 0.33 69.68 2.00 0.81 21.38 15.65 0.00 123.05 0.00 −13.24 −106.07 Na–HCO3
n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
30 Zhuhexiang
Spring		 102.93 28.07 19.06.2008 49.8 256.45 4.65 54.62 13.18 2.42 3.99 11.97 0.00 161.91 0.02 −12.62 −100.01 Na–HCO3
29.10.2008 49.7 248.22 4.57 51.93 13.39 2.35 3.91 12.22 0.00 154.30 0.00 −12.67 −100.50 Na–HCO3
22.06.2009 49.8 244.72 4.27 50.23 13.75 2.36 3.96 12.05 0.00 152.89 0.00 −13.53 −99.12 Na–HCO3
26.04.2010 48.0 255.93 4.27 50.17 13.26 2.44 3.80 12.31 0.00 167.97 0.00 −12.86 −100.54 Na–HCO3
31 Lizhouzhen
Spring		 102.24 28.09 19.06.2008 n.d. 331.37 14.12 54.16 30.00 0.00 5.52 11.33 0.00 212.12 0.01 −14.48 −110.35 NaCa–HCO3
29.10.2008 48.1 326.67 14.66 52.79 30.77 0.00 5.38 11.34 0.00 210.92 0.02 −14.71 −110.23 NaCa–HCO3
22.06.2009 49.0 323.38 13.37 48.45 29.36 0.00 6.14 10.93 0.00 210.00 −0.01 −14.11 −110.74 NaCa–HCO3
25.04.2010 48.6 321.73 14.08 49.49 29.49 0.00 5.45 11.06 0.00 209.92 0.00 −14.63 −110.06 NaCa–HCO3
32 Luojishan
Spring		 102.54 27.40 20.06.2008 n.d. 1212.86 49.31 208.79 81.48 29.43 136.74 257.26 0.00 449.06 0.00 −11.76 −96.43 Na–HCO3SO4
29.10.2008 43.7 1172.03 46.80 213.50 81.42 28.43 135.47 255.58 0.00 407.06 0.01 −11.64 −96.10 Na–HCO3SO4
22.06.2009 43.8 1150.63 46.67 213.09 71.12 26.07 135.76 244.07 0.00 412.82 0.01 −13.41 −96.20 Na–HCO3SO4
25.04.2010 43.8 1127.84 43.86 200.41 73.26 26.02 135.37 252.58 0.00 395.58 0.00 −13.18 −96.77 Na–HCO3SO4
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The “n.d.” represents samples not analysed.

4.1. Physicochemical Parameters of the Springs in the LMSF Zone

The water samples from in the LMSF zone have δ 18O and δD values between −16.34‰ and −6.18‰, −116.65‰ and −61.66‰, respectively. The temperatures and TDS ranged from 10.5 to 58.0°C and 151.69 to 1569.81 mg/L. The concentrations of Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ varied from 29.82 to 202.49 mg/L, 4.74 to 252.78 mg/L, and 0.80 to 128.73 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of Cl−, SO4 2−, and HCO3 − varied from 2.31 to 64.74 mg/L, 21.33 to 878.08 mg/L, and 14.63 to 310.70 mg/L respectively (Table 1).

4.2. Physicochemical Parameters of the Springs in the MJF Zone

Fifteen water samples were collected from the sites nos. 6–9 in the MJF zone, of which the δ 18O and δD were between −15.34% and −13.20%, −112.23% and −102.20%, the values of temperatures and TDS ranged from 8.8 to 21.7°C and 505.34 to 1657.61 mg/L. The concentrations of Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ ranged from 8.75 to 25.23 mg/L, 49.54 to 183.57 mg/L, and 23.23 to 183.57 mg/L, and the concentrations of Cl−, SO4 2−, and HCO3 − from 0.93 to 10.78 mg/L, 3.56 to 17.78 mg/L, and 313.61 to 1324.27 mg/L separately (Table 1).

4.3. Physicochemical Parameters of the Springs in the XSHF Zone

Sixty-two water samples were collected from the sites nos. 10–25 in the XSHF zone, of which δ 18O and δD varied from −18.84‰ to −10.04‰ and −141.98‰ to −78.77‰. The values of temperatures and TDS ranged from 27.8 to 83.0°C and 427.53 to 2159.43 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ ranged from 35.14 to 679.23 mg/L, 4.38 to 50.10 mg/L, and 0.12 to 45.71 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of Cl−, SO4 2−, and HCO3 − ranged from 2.35 to 336.16 mg/L, 6.56 to 161.87 mg/L, and 62.48 to 1894.64 mg/L, respectively (Table 1).

4.4. Physicochemical Parameters of the Springs in the ANHF Zone

Twenty-four water samples were collected from the sites nos. 26–32 in the ANHF zone, of which the δ 18O and δD were between −11.64‰ and −96.10‰, −110.47‰ and −102.20‰. The temperatures of the spring waters were between 21.1 and 56.9°C, the TDS were between 206.70 and 1212.86 mg/L. The concentrations of Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ ranged from 50.17 to 213.50 mg/L, 2.00 to 81.48 mg/L, and 0.00 to 29.43 mg/L, and the concentrations of Cl−, SO4 2−, and HCO3 − from 1.91 to 136.74 mg/L, 10.94 to 257.26 mg/L, and 81.95 to 449.06 mg/L, respectively (Table 1).

5. Discussion

5.1. Chemical Types of the Waters and Their Origins

5.1.1. The Chemical Types

The triangular diagrams in Figure 2 illustrated the proportions of the anionic (Cl−, SO4 2−, and HCO3 −) and cationic (K+ + Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) concentrations of the water samples from the 32 sites. The anions and cations of the water samples were mainly distributed in blocks i, ii, and iii, indicating that Na+, Ca2+, SO4 2−, and HCO3 − were the main chemical composition for most of the samples. Based on the Shoka Lev's classification method, the water samples were classified into 9 chemical types according to the main chemical composition, which are Na(Ca)-HCO3(SO4), Na(Mg)-HCO3(SO4), Ca(Na)-HCO3(SO4), Mg(Ca)-SO4, Ca(Mg)-SO4, Ca(Mg)-HCO3, Mg(Ca)-HCO3, Na-Cl(HCO3), and Ca(Na)-SO4(HCO3) (Table 1). The cations of the samples of the springs nos. 1–5 occur in the LMSF zone were mainly distributed in the blocks 1, 2, and 4, and the anions were distributed in the blocks i and ii, which together formed 4 chemical types of Na(Ca)-HCO3(SO4), Ca(Na)-HCO3(SO4), Mg(Ca)-SO4, and Ca(Mg)-SO4. The cations of the samples of the springs nos. 6–9 occur in the MJF zone were mainly distributed in the blocks 3 and 4, the anions were distributed in the block i, and the chemical types for the samples were Ca(Mg)-HCO3 and Mg(Ca)-HCO3. Both of the cations and anions of the samples of the springs nos. 26–32 occur in the ANHF zone were distributed in the blocks i-ii and 1-2, these samples have the similar chemical type of Na(Ca)-HCO3(SO4). Half of the samples including the samples of the springs nos. 10–25 occur in the XSHF zone, the cations of these samples were distributed in the blocks 1, 2, and 5, with anions in the blocks i, ii, iii, and vi, and the chemical types were Na(Ca)-HCO3(SO4), Na(Mg)-HCO3(SO4), Na-Cl(HCO3), and Ca(Na)-SO4(HCO3).

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Ternary plots of the cation and anion for the waters.

5.1.2. The Origins

(1) δD and δ 18 O. The values of δ 18O and δD of the 32 springs were plotted along the local meteoric water line (LMWL: δD = 7.06 δ 18O + 4.06) with different extent shifts from the LMWL (Figure 3), which indicated that the spring waters were mainly originated from meteoric water and with different extent alteration. The values of δ 18O and δD were plotted in three regions, the region I includes the samples of the springs no.1–3, with values of δD and δ 18O ranged from −82.13‰ to −61.66‰ and −11.75‰ to −6.18‰, the region III includes all the samples from the XSHF zone (springs nos. 10–25), with values of δD and δ 18O between −141.98‰ and −78.77‰, −18.84‰ and −10.04‰, respectively, and the others in the region II, with the values of δD and δ 18O ranging from −116.81‰ to −96.10‰ and −16.34‰ to −11.64‰ (Table 1). The values of δD and δ 18O of the springs nos.10–25 from the higher mountain area were more negative, while those of the springs nos. 1–3 collected in the lower altitude region were less negative, which is constant with the previous results [32].

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Diagram of δ 18O versus δD of the waters. LMWL stands for the Local Meteoric Water Line: δD = 7.06 δ 18O − 4.06.

(2) Na(Ca)-HCO 3 (SO 4 ), Na(Mg)-HCO 3 (SO 4 ), and Na-Cl(HCO 3 ) Waters. The water samples of the springs nos. 4-5, 10–23 and 25–32 were belong to these types (Table 1). The springs nos. 4-5, 13–23 and 25 occur in granite, while the springs nos. 10-11 in Late Triassic clastic rock interbeded with volcanic rocks. The spring no. 12 is found in Late Permian volcanic tuff, while the spring no. 26 in Sinian pyroclastic rock. The spring nos. 27–29 and 31 are found in Cretaceous clastic rock, the spring no. 30 in Early Triassic sandstone, and the spring no. 32 in Paleozoic mixed layer (Figure 1). The springs nos. 4-5, 10–23 and 25–32 occur in the rocks enriched in feldspar resulting in similar higher concentrations of Na+ and HCO3 − because of rock-water interaction. In addition, the samples from the springs nos. 5, 19, 23, and 32 were characterized by the similar concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, and SO4 2− (Table 1), which should be attributed to the water-rock interactions between groundwater and Devonian carbonate (Figure 1). Cl− is known to be conservative and derive from the deep earth mainly [33, 34]. The chemical type for the samples from the spring no. 16 was Na-Cl (HCO3), with the Cl− concentration as 328.54 mg/l (Table 1), which suggested the input of deep fluid. Meanwhile, the high 3He/4He ratio (between 1.43 and 3.73RA, RA = 1.39 × 10−6) [30] together with the high temperatures (between 80.0°C and 70.2°C) also are the evidences for the upwelling of the deep-earth fluids into the spring (Table 1).

(3) Ca(Na)-HCO 3 (SO 4 ), Ca(Mg)-HCO 3 , Mg(Ca)-HCO 3 , and Ca(Na)-SO 4 (HCO 3 ) Waters. These included the samples from the springs nos.1, 6–9, and 24 (Table 1). The spring no. 1 occurs in Jurassic carbonate interbedded with sandstone. The springs nos. 6 and 9 occur in Late Triassic clastic rock interbedded with carbonate. The springs nos. 7 and 8 occur in Middle Triassic clastic rock interbedded with carbonate, and the spring no. 24 is found in Carboniferous carbonate (Figure 1). The springs nos. 1, 6–9, and 24 occur in strata enriched in carbonate, so that the main components of the waters were Ca2+, Mg2+ and HCO3 − because of the interaction between the groundwater and carbonate. The samples of the springs nos. 8 and 9 have the same chemical type of Mg (Ca)-HCO3, and similar Ca/Mg ratios (0.54 and 0.86, Table 1), which can be attributed to the dissolution of calcite combined with the low temperatures of the springs nos. 8 and 9 (8.8°C and 9.0°C respectively) (Table 1).

(4) Mg(Ca)-SO 4 and Ca(Mg)-SO 4 Waters. The springs nos. 2 and 3 occur in Devonian to Silurian pyrite-bearing sale and marlite (Figure 1), from which the samples had higher SO4 2− concentration (878.08 mg/L and 812.50 mg/L, resp.) and TDS (1571.81 mg/L and 1195.08 mg/L, resp.), with the chemical types of Mg (Ca)-SO4 and Ca (Mg)-SO4 (Table 1), indicating interaction between carbonate and groundwater enhanced by the sulfate from the oxidation of pyrite [35].

5.2. Chemical Variations of the Spring Waters Associated with Seismic Activities

5.2.1. Temporal Variations

The hydrochemical data of the water samples showed evident trend of temporal variations.

The geochemical parameters of the samples nos. 1, 3–5 from the LMSF zone and the samples nos. 15 and 20 from the XSHF zone varriedby more than 20% one month after the Wenchuan earthquake, and similar variations happened after October 2008. The concentrations of Na+, Ca2+, Cl−, SO4 2−, and TDS of the sample of the spring no. 1 decreased by 42%, 39%, 53%, 31%, and 35%, respectively; for the sample number 2, the decreasing amplitudes for the concentrations of Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, SO4 2−, and TDS were 23%, 45%, 25%, 38%, 22%, and 33%, separately. The concentrations of Mg2+, Ca2+, HCO3 −, and TDS of the sample from the spring no. 3 decreased by 33%, 42%, 95%, and 35%, respectively. The concentrations of Na+, HCO3 −, and TDS of the sample of the spring no. 4 decreased by 67%, 33% and 57%, respectively. For the sample of the spring no. 5, the concentrations of Na+, HCO3 − and TDS decreased by 25%, 41%, and 26%, respectively. The concentrations of Na+ and SO4 2− of sample of the spring no. 20 decreased by 28% and 26%, respectively. For the sample of the spring no. 15, however the concentrations of Na+, HCO3 − and TDS increased in 17 April 2010, with the amplitudes of 53%, 38%, and 38%, respectively. Meanwhile, the δ 18O-δD plots of the samples from the springs nos.1, 3, and 4 approached the LMWL (Local Meteoric Line) after sizeable shift in June 2008, and the similar variation happened for the spring no. 2 after October 2008 (Figure 3), which indicated gradual input decrease of deep-earth fluids that formed by water-rock reaction after the Wenchuan earthquake

The supplement of deep water characterized by higher mineralization and enriched in δ 18O is considered as a main factor for controlling pre- and co-seismic geochemical variations of the groundwater and springs [2, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 16, 36, 37]. The Coulomb stress in the middle-north segment of the LMSF zone, the southeast segment of the XSHF zone, and the south segment of the MJF zone had been enhanced, which resulted in the Wenchuan M S 8.0 earthquake [38, 39], and the geochemical variations of the samples from the springs nos. 1–5 and 20. Meanwhile, the input decrease of deep-earth water during the sampling period in which seismic activity decreased gradually. 747 aftershocks with M S higher than 4.0 occurred in the three fault zones, and most of which (including all the 12 events with amplitude ranged from 6.0 to 6.4) occurred before September 10, 2008 (China Earthquake Network Center, Figure 1). As the aftershock activities became weak, the TDS values of the samples from the springs nos. 1–5 and 20 decreased gradually to the normal value (Figure 4), indicating the supplement decrease of the deep-earth fluid as the Coulomb stress being released after the events as indicated by the data of oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions (Figure 3).

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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Temporal variations of the geochemical parameters of the 32 hot spring waters after the Wenchuan earthquake. The abscissas indicate the numbers of the samples and the ordinates indicate the ratios of each batch of samples with the first batch of samples.

Notably, the concentrations of Na+, HCO3 −, and TDS of the sample of the spring no. 15 increased by 53%, 38%, and 38% on April 17, 2010 (Figure 4), which was closely related to the 28 April 2010 an M S 5.4 aftershock 15 kilometers epicenter distance to the spring no. 15 (Figure 1). Therefore, it can be infered that the hydrogeochemical variations of the spring no. 15 might be the short-term hydrogeochemical precursors for the M S 5.4 event.

The geochemical parameters of the samples from the springs nos. 16-17 and 19 about 200 kilometers showed evident increase trend before the Wenchuan earthquake [20, 24, 25]. The K+ concentrations of the samples of the springs nos. 16-17 and 19 increased by 19.3% to 54.4% before the main shock, and rapidly decreased to the normal values after the main shock. The concentrations of SO4 2− for the samples from the springs nos. 16 and 19 increased by 32.0% and 59.6% respectively before the earthquake, and then dropped to the normal value after the main shock (Figure 5). The springs nos. 16-17 and 19 occur in the intersection of the LMSF, XSHF and ANHF zones where the extrusion stress increased yearly from 2004 to 2007 before the Wenchuan earthquake [40, 41]. Therefore, the increase of K+ and SO4 2− concentrations for the samples of the springs nos.16-17 and 19 could be attributed to the more supplement of the deep fluids with higher concentrations of K+ and SO4 2− [42], The 3He/4He ratios of the samples from the springs nos. 16-17 and 19 increased before the Wenchuan earthquake, but showed a remarkable drop after the shock, and then became normal indicating the more supplement of mantle-derived fluids before the main shock [30].

Figure 5.

Figure 5

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Temporal variations of concentration of K+ and SO4 2−. Black squares: waters collected from the Guanding spring; black cycles: waters collected from the Longtougou spring; black triangles: waters collected from the Erdaoqiao spring; the dashed vertical line: the time of the occurrence of the Wenchuan earthquake.

5.2.2. Spatial Variations

The geochemical and isotopic compositions of the samples from the springs nos. 1–5 occur in the LMSF zone performed evident variation after the Wenchuan earthquake, with the highest amplitude as 95% for HCO3 − of the sample from the spring no. 5. However, for the other samples from the other fault zones, just the samples from the springs nos. 15 and 20 presented obvious geochemical variations, with the highest amplitude as 53% for Na+ of the sample from the spring no. 15 (Figure 4). The Wenchuan earthquake happened in the LMSF zone, which enhanced the Coulomb stress of the zone [38, 39], and with most of the aftershocks occurred there (Figure 1). For the springs nos. 1–5 occurred in the LMSF zone, the epicenter distances are between 50 and 110 kilometers, which are smaller than those of the hot springs nos. 6-32 (between 190 and 410 km). Therefore, the variation of the tectonic stress induced by the Wenchuan earthquake and the aftershocks may resulted in, the geochemical and isotopic variations for the springs nos. 1–5 after the Wenchuan earthquake.

6. Conclusions

120 water samples of the 32 hot springs in the western Sichuan have been analyzed after the Wenchuan earthquake. The following conclusions can be drawn.

  1. The waters of the 32 springs were mainly derived from meteoric precipitation. Because of the isotopic elevation effect, the δD and δ 18O of the samples from the higher mountain area were lower, but those of samples from the lower altitude region were higher. all of the analyzed water samples from the 32 springs can be classified into nine chemical types: Na(Ca)-HCO3(SO4), Na(Mg)-HCO3(SO4), Ca(Na)-HCO3(SO4), Mg(Ca)-SO4, Ca(Mg)-SO4, Ca(Mg)-HCO3, Mg(Ca)-HCO3, Na-Cl(HCO3), and Ca(Na)-SO4(HCO3), which were mainly controlled by water-rock interaction and the input of deep fluid.

  2. The concentrations of K+ and SO4 2− of the samples of the springs nos.16-17 and 19 in the intersection of LMSF, XSHF, and ANHF varied evidently, with the amplitude ranging from 19.3% to 59.6% before and after the Wenchuan earthquake which may be attributed to the interfusion of the deep fluids with high K+ and SO4 2− induced by the increased tectonic stress.

  3. The hydrogeochemical variations of the springs closer to the epicenter performed more obviously after the Wenchuan earthquake. As the aftershock activities became weak, the geochemical parameters of the samples from the springs nos. 1–5, 15, and 20 located in the regions where the tectonic stress was enhanced before the Wenchuan M S 8.0 earthquake decreased by more than 20%, and with the δ 18O the LMWL, which may be related to the change of tectonic stress when the aftershock activities became weak.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Seismological Bureau of Sichuan province and Professor Fang Du for helping in the field work. The authors sincerely thank the editor and reviewers for their valuable comments and grammar edits in improving the paper. This research was supported by the National Science and Technology Support Program (the characteristics of gas geochemistry of Longmenshan faults, WFSD-10), the Basic Science Research Plan of the Institute of Earthquake Science, China Earthquake Administration (The fluid geochemical survey of the mud volcanoes in the North of the Tianshan Mountain, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 02132417), and the Basic Science Research Plan of the Institute of Earthquake Science, China Earthquake Administration (02132417).

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

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